The affordability of prescription medicines in Australia: are copayments and safety net thresholds too high?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To create and report survey-based indicators of the affordability of prescription medicines for patients in Australia. METHOD: A cross-sectional study of 1502 randomly selected participants in the Hunter Region of NSW, were interviewed by telephone. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The self-reported financial burden of obtaining prescription medicines. RESULTS: Data collection was completed with a response rate of 59.0%. Participants who had received and filled at least one prescription medicine in the previous 3 months, and eligible for analysis (n=952), were asked to self-report the level of financial burden from obtaining these medicines. Extreme and heavy financial burdens were reported ..